Monday, July 10, 2006

Pelosi & Hastert Gets Judicial Smackdown

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said members of Congress are not above the law. He rejected requests from lawmakers and Democratic Rep. William Jefferson to return material seized by the FBI in a May 20-21 search of Jefferson's office.

In a 28-page opinion, Hogan dismissed arguments that the first-ever raid on a congressman's office violated the Constitution's protections against intimidation of elected officials.

Jefferson's theory of legislative privilege "would have the effect of converting every congressional office into a taxpayer-subsidized sanctuary for crime," the judge said.

Judge Hogan's ruling isn't setting well with either Speaker Hastert or Nancy Pelosi at this hour. When we tried to get comments from the Speaker, his face overwent multiple shades of crimson and he barked something unintelligible but this esteemed reporter believes it was somewhere along the lines of this newspaper hating America and needing to be charged with violating The Espionage Act.

Reaction from Pelosi's office was not as gruff and cold, however. Although Pelosi would not comment to us directly, an aide who requested anonimity stated that Pelosi was considering a press conference later in the week detailing a plan of hand delivering a dozen privileged ethics complaints against Judge Hogan.